Injury-plagued Wallabies centre Josh Flook has cast aside a tumultuous year on the field to ink a contract extension with the Queensland Reds, as he fixes his gaze on a last-ditch bid for the British and Irish Lions series.
The 23-year-old made his debut in the gold jumper last year against Wales, managing four caps in 2024 as he sought to establish himself in the nation’s No.13 jersey.
Those plans appeared to be gathering steam in the initial rounds of the Super Rugby Pacific campaign, Flook scoring a double in the Reds’ second clash of the campaign against the Western Force, before succumbing to a hamstring injury.
Josh Flook is tackled during a Bledisloe Cup match against the New Zealand All Blacks.Credit: Getty Images
Flook has not played since that encounter, but is in line to make his return against the Fijian Drua on Saturday as Queensland seek to cement their place in the top six on the eve of finals.
“The boys sitting next to me on the sidelines are probably happiest to see me back earlier than expected because I do go a bit hardcore with my vocal support during games,” Flook said.
“This Saturday night is the last regular season home game for the Reds at Suncorp Stadium. It’s going to be a huge last round with so many possibilities still in play for the finals.
“Everyone at the Reds will be up for the game, and we know the Fijian Drua will be trying to ruin the party when they come to Brisbane.”
Flook’s extension until the end of 2026, and hopeful timely return – weeks ahead of schedule – leaves him with a small window to convince Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt he warrants inclusion in the squad to take on the Lions this year.
The Nudgee College product has used his rehabilitation period to near completion of a bachelor of business at QUT, but now his attention will turn to ensuring the milestones he hoped to achieve in 2025 are not ruled out.
“It’s another season down the track. The Reds have improved again, and I’m really enjoying the direction of the team and the organisation as a whole,” Flook said.
“I’ve grown up playing with a lot of these guys at the Reds. This club, this team, is a big part of my life and when you see plenty of the boys re-signing, you don’t want to be anywhere else.”
More to come.
